Analyzer and method for sensing using the same

Abstract

An analyzer is disclosed herein. The analyzer encompasses a substrate having a surface with a plurality of distinct V-grooves formed therein. An input flow channel is configured to intersect and fluidly communicate with each of the plurality of distinct V-grooves at respective input points, and an output flow channel is configured to intersect and fluidly communicate with each of the plurality of distinct V-grooves at respective output points.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An analyzer, comprising:
 a substrate having a surface; 
 a plurality of distinct V-grooves formed in the substrate surface, each of the V-grooves having two opposed ends and to carry a sample containing at least one species; 
 an input flow channel configured to intersect and fluidly communicate with each of the plurality of distinct V-grooves at respective input points; 
 an output flow channel configured to intersect and fluidly communicate with each of the plurality of distinct V-grooves at respective output points; 
 a plurality of input fibers, each input fiber physically connected to one of the two opposed ends of a respective one of the plurality of distinct V-grooves, and each input fiber configured to direct light into the respective one of the plurality of distinct V-grooves; and 
 a plurality of output fibers, each output fiber physically connected to an opposite of the two opposed ends of the respective one of the plurality of distinct V-grooves, and each output fiber configured to direct light out of the respective one of the plurality of distinct V-grooves. 
 
     
     
       2. The analyzer as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light sources, each light source operatively positioned to emit light into a respective one of the plurality of input fibers. 
     
     
       3. The analyzer as defined in  claim 2  wherein a wavelength of light emitted from one of the plurality of light sources is different from a wavelength of light emitted from an other of the plurality of light sources. 
     
     
       4. The analyzer as defined in  claim 2  wherein the plurality of light sources is operatively integrated with the substrate. 
     
     
       5. The analyzer as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a metal layer established on each surface of each of the plurality of V-grooves. 
     
     
       6. The analyzer as defined in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of input flow channels and each of the plurality of output flow channels is a microfluidic channel or a nanofluidic channel. 
     
     
       7. The analyzer as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of detectors, each detector operatively positioned to detect light from a respective one of the V-grooves through its respective output fiber. 
     
     
       8. The analyzer as defined in  claim 7  wherein the plurality of detectors is operatively integrated with the substrate. 
     
     
       9. The analyzer as defined in  claim 1  wherein each V-groove has an interaction length extending between its input point and output point, and wherein the interaction length ranges from about 100 nm to about 1 mm. 
     
     
       10. A method for sensing the at least one species using the analyzer of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 introducing the sample containing the at least one species into the input flow channel, whereby the sample flows i) into each of the distinct V-grooves at the respective input points, and ii) out of each of the distinct V-grooves at the respective output points; 
 introducing the light into each of the distinct V-grooves; and 
 detecting at least some optical signals indicative of the at least one species. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the at least one species includes at least two species, wherein the light introduced into one of the distinct V-grooves has a wavelength that is different from a wavelength of the light introduced into an other of the distinct V-grooves, and wherein detecting includes:
 detecting, via a first detector operatively positioned at an output of the one of the distinct V-grooves, optical signals indicative of one of the at least two species; and 
 detecting, via a second detector operatively positioned at an output of the other of the distinct V-grooves, optical signals indicative of an other of the at least two species. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein a wavelength of the light introduced into each of the distinct V-grooves is the same. 
     
     
       13. The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the at least one species includes one species, wherein the light introduced into one of the distinct V-grooves has a wavelength that is different from a wavelength of the light introduced into an other of the distinct V-grooves, and wherein detecting includes:
 detecting, via detectors operatively positioned at an output of the one of the distinct V-grooves and at an output of the other of the distinct V-grooves, optical signals indicative of the one species. 
 
     
     
       14. The method as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising identifying the at least one species based upon the optical signals. 
     
     
       15. The analyzer as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a cover secured to the substrate surface and substantially enclosing the plurality of input flow channels, the plurality of output flow channels, and the plurality of distinct V-grooves so that light and fluid are prohibited from escaping the analyzer through the cover.